A Perfect Circle: A Perfect Performance at Planet Hollywood

A Perfect Circle knew what they were doing when they chose Las Vegas for there one and only show date in North America on Dec. 29 at Planet Hollywood. What better place than The Entertainment Capital of the World to perform their first show in the U.S. in 2012 before spreading their music to the rest of the world? And what better way to kick off New Year’s Eve weekend than with a concert by A Perfect Circle?

Formed by Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan and former Tool guitar tech Billy Howerdel as a side project, A Perfect Circle is a spin-off of the alt-metal-fused-with-art-rock style popularized by Tool. But unlike Tool, A Perfect Circle is less dark and more harmonious with stronger lyrics and more rhythm that sometimes incorporates strings and unusual instruments.

In 1996, after the release of Enima, Tool found themselves in a legal battle with former label Freeworld Entertainment. After two years of fighting the case, the band decided to take some time off. It was then that Keenan hooked up with Howerdel and Paz Lenchantin to form A Perfect Circle. With Keenan on vocals, Howerdel on guitar and Lenchantin on bass, the group recruited ex-Failure and Enemy member Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar and ex-Vandals and Guns N’ Roses member Josh Freese on drums.

It wasn’t until 1999 that the group performed their first live show together on August 15, 1999 at a benefit concert in Los Angeles. Since then, A Perfect Circle has exploded onto the alternative/metal/rock scene for their stylistic content and mashup of artists from across the rock genre including new members former guitarist for The Smashing Pumpkins, James Iha; 30 Seconds to Mars and Puscifer and Ashes Divide bassist Matt McJunkins and Jeff Friedl from Devo and Filter.

A year after officially forming, they released their first album, Mer de Noms, in 2000. Thirteenth Step followed in 2003, and just a year later eMOTIVE was released. Two of those albums, Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step went platinum while eMOTIVE went certified gold.

No word yet on what songs A Perfect Circle will perform but I can only hope their hit singles like “Weak and Powerless,” “The Outsider,” “Judith “ and “3Libras” will all be included on their set list. They’ve also been known to perform cover songs by Marvin Gaye and Depeche Mode and since they are on tour it’s possible they have a few new songs to share.

Don’t miss A Perfect Circle’s one and only North American tour stop Saturday, Dec. 29 at Planet Hollywood with discounted tickets right here on Best of Vegas.